Reports from Reuters reveal that Tunisia has expelled hundreds of Sub-Saharan African migrants to a desolate area along its border with Libya, following days of violent confrontations between migrants and residents in the port city of Sfax.
The unrest unfolded after a Tunisian man lost his life in clashes with migrants. Local residents voiced grievances about disorderly behavior by the migrants, while the migrants themselves complained of racist harassment.
Human rights activist Ramadan Ben Omar informed Reuters that the police have repatriated hundreds of migrants, including women and children, leaving them stranded in a secluded military zone situated along the desert border with Libya. Disturbing accounts have emerged of migrant beatings, evictions from rented accommodations, and arbitrary detentions carried out by local residents in the days leading up to police intervention and the restoration of order.
These deportations occur against the backdrop of a significant surge in migration across the Mediterranean from Tunisia this year. European countries are exerting pressure on Tunisia to prevent large numbers of migrants from departing its shores. However, President Kais Saied has firmly stated that Tunisia will not serve as a mere “border guard” and refuses to allow the settlement of immigrants within the country.
Sfax, located in Tunisia, has witnessed a sharp increase in African migrants illegally crossing its borders, driven by their aspirations to embark on boats operated by human traffickers in the hopes of reaching Europe. This unprecedented influx has triggered a migration crisis of unparalleled proportions for the North African nation.
